Scottish Government committed to A96 dualling despite Budget mistake

The Scottish Government remains committed to dualling the A96, the finance secretary has said, after an “error” was found in a key infrastructure plan.

On Tuesday, Shona Robison pledged to dual “key sections” of the road between Aberdeen and Inverness.

The Government’s infrastructure pipeline, which was published alongside the Budget, also failed to mention that the whole road will be dualled.

But in a point of order at Holyrood on Wednesday – following interventions from local MSPs Fergus Ewing and Douglas Ross – Robison admitted a mistake had been made.

Fergus Ewing said the mistake amounted to a ‘series of schoolboy howlers’ . PA Media

“Can I thank Fergus Ewing for the opportunity to say that the infrastructure delivery pipeline sets out our commitment to dualling the A96,” she said.

“It lists the Inshes to Smithton section and the Inverness to Nairn section, including the Nairn bypass.

“It should have also listed the entire A96 corridor, because that is our commitment and that is what ministers agreed when the draft document was sent for formal ministerial approval.

“There has been one error, and we’re still looking into how this happened, but my understanding is it would appear to be a production error in the document.”

Robison added: “What I can say absolutely definitively is that the document has already been corrected online and the full A96 is now included.

“Ministers remain absolutely committed to that project, including the Elgin bypass.”

The issue was raised in the chamber by Ewing ahead of a statement from transport secretary Fiona Hyslop on the dualling of the A9.

Ewing, a former SNP MSP and minister who now sits as an independent, described the mistake as a “series of schoolboy howlers”.

He added: “Despite the fact Transport Scotland, Government officials and ministers should have been all over the detail of this vital document, will the cabinet secretary issue a correction now, correct the official report, take whatever action is required to correct the Government’s official document and, lastly, apologise to everyone.”

Ross described the mistake as a “monumental error”.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government re-affirmed its commitment to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2035, with 50% to be completed by 2030.